OCTOBER 9, 2001

No new gizmos at Suzuka for Ferrari

JAPAN may be the nation most at home with advanced technology but Ferrari will not be using any of the systems it has been devising for 2002 when at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

The new all-titanium gearbox, anti-collision warning and mechanical power steering are among the 2002 features tried out on interim 2001 cars in a last, feverish week of testing at Fiorano before the ban that will preclude any track time from the end of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix until New Year's Day.

World champion Michael Schumacher has already expressed great confidence in next year's program as a result of the tests, but insists that it will be a 2001-spec car in which he is expected to try and help Rubens Barrichello to victory in Japan this weekend.

"These parts have not be proven over a race distance," he said. "When we have the new car, in January, we can concentrate on getting everything ready in time for the first race of next season."